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Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.